How much more charming are all these little dramas of inanimate nature when animals or plants take part in them! Attracted by the mildness of the air the butterfly flutters on the scene, or the plant, fallen from the heights of neighboring rocks, makes the most of its short time to take root again and display its last little blossoms.
[APRIL.]
BY EMILY HUNTINGTON MILLER.
Frost in the meadow, fog on the hill;
Bluebird and robin sing with a will.
Up through the brown earth, spite of the cold,
Comes Lady Crocus, in purple and gold.
Shy little Snow-drop, dressed like a bride,
Nodding and trembling, stands by her side.
Daffadowndilly slips out of bed,
With a buff turban crowning her head.
Slim Mr. Jonquil comes on the run;
"Pray, am I up in time for the fun?"
[EASTER-TIME.]
BY MARY D. BRINE.
The shadows of winter, so chill and so gray,
Have passed from the meadows and hill-tops away;
There's a shine in the skies,
Born of Spring's merry eyes,
And the heart of the Earth grows softer each day.
See how she releases from fetter and chain
Her treasures, which spring into freedom again,
Till with beauty and bloom
And sweetest perfume
Is filled every hill-side, and meadow, and lane.
But fairest of all things that blossom and grow,
Sweet as the summer and pure as the snow,
Is the lily, that tells,
Like the glad Easter bells,
Once more the sweet story which all hearts should know.
Bloom out, Easter lilies; bloom brightly and fair;
Breathe out your pure fragrance upon the mild air;
Fling your banners so white
Gayly out to the light,
For past is the lenten of sorrow and care.
For oh! with the spring-time the Easter is born;
Out of darkness and night springs the glad welcome dawn;
And Easter bells ringing,
Their Easter song singing,
With loud jubilates hail Spring's sunny morn.